Little River Railroad and Lumber Museum

The Little River Railroad & Lumber Company
In 1901, W.B. Townsend and a group of investors chartered the Little River Lumber Company and the Little River Railroad. They purchased nearly 100,000 acres of timberland along the Little River and its tributaries. After it was founded, the Little River Railroad & Lumber Company grew to be one of the largest commercial logging operations in southern Appalachia. Over its roughly 38 years of operation, the company built 150 miles of railroads and sawed 560 million board feet of timber.
The Little River Railroad & Lumber Company led to the expansion of nearby towns and influx of people to the area. Log camps, such as Elkmont and Tremont, served as homes for workers and their families. These families lived in early mobile homes known as “set off houses.” These structures were built in town and then “set off” on flatcars along the railroad tracks. The houses were then grouped together in rows known as “string towns.”
Townsend, named after the founder and president of the Little River Railroad & Lumber Company, formed as a result of the new industrialization in the area. After the Little River Railroad & Lumber Company opened access to the area, the tourism industry increased as visitors flocked to resorts along the Little River. The Little River Railroad opened the “Elkmont Special”, a $1.90 scenic tour with stops in Maryville, Walland, Kinzel Springs, Townsend, Line Springs, Wonderland Park, and Elkmont.
In 1925, the State of Tennessee purchased 76, 507 acres of land from W.B. Townsend to establish the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 1934. The Little River Railroad & Lumber Company closed its sawmill in 1938 and abandoned the railroad in 1939.
This is a neat spot to help on the budget as it’s FREE ADMISSION! Their is also a swinging bridge close by you should go do as well
#townsend #gatlinburg #pigeonforge

[@heritagegaitfarms2515]

Looks like fun

[@FreemanAdventuresTN]

We will be going back soon to the town of Elkmont that is the Ghost Town that was once a little town that was built for the workers of this railroad company.